Grand jury indicts two in death of Needham teenagers

Tuesday

Jul 24, 2018 at 2:05 PMJul 24, 2018 at 4:51 PM

A Norfolk County grand jury has indicted a Needham man and a Wellesley woman in the Feb. 10, 2018 collision that killed two Needham teenagers.

According to a press release from the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, Robert Berry, 65, of Needham, was indicted on three charges: negligent motor vehicle homicide and two counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Dania Antoine-Guiteau, 52, of Wellesley, was indicted for manslaughter and negligent motor vehicle homicide. According to the DA’s Communications Director David Traub, ​the manslaughter charge is based on an accusation of "wanton and reckless conduct."

The crash claimed the lives of Needham High School students Talia Newfield, 16, and Adrienne Garrido, 17, and caused widespread grief throughout the community. According to Talia’s father Craig Newfield, the two teens were best friends.

“By bringing these charges today, and in their statements to us, the DA and the police have made it clear that Adrienne and Talia were doing everything right, and that the Commonwealth will seek justice for our daughters,” the Newfield family wrote in a statement. “We are grateful to the District Attorney and the Needham Police for their efforts to determine how Adrienne and Talia were killed, and for their compassion in helping us to understand and navigate the criminal process so far.”

According to the DA’s office, the two were walking on Webster Street near the school at around 5 p.m. when they were struck. Shortly after the incident, investigators were seen testing the brakes on a red sedan, which was later towed from the area.

Traub told The Needham Times in February the investigation was centered on two drivers, both of whom stopped and talked to police. Investigators worked with the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section of the State Police in order to reconstruct the accident.

Berry is defended by attorney Kevin Reddington, who notably defended the girlfriend of James “Whitey” Bulger in 2011. Antoine-Guiteau is defended by Sandra Gant and Ethan Yankowitz.